As ravagers of crops and carriers of diseases affecting plants, humans and animals, insects present a challenge to a growing human population. In Pest and Vector Control, first published in 2004, Professors van Emden and Service describe the available options for meeting this challenge, discussing their relative advantages, disadvantages and future potential. Methods such as chemical and biological control, host tolerance and resistance are discussed integrating (often for the first time) information and experience from the agricultural and medical/veterinary fields. Chemical control is seen as a major component of insect control, both now and in the future, but this is balanced with an extensive account of associated problems, especially the development of pesticide-tolerant populations.
Based in Reading University, Professor van Emden has written over 160 research articles and has over 40 years' experience of teaching agricultural pest management. Professor Mike Service has been teaching medical entomology for over 30 years and has written over 200 research papers. He has given advice and training in disease vector control in over 50 countries.
Preface; 1. Man and insects; 2. The causes of pest and vectored disease outbreaks; 3. Insecticides and their formulation; 4. Application of insecticides; 5. Problems with insecticides; 6. Environmental/cultural control; 7. Biological control; 8. Insect pathogens; 9. Genetic control; 10. Pheromones; 11. Plant and host resistance; 12. Other control measures and related topics; 13. Pest and vector management; References; Appendix: names of some chemicals and microbials used as pesticides.
'[the authors] provide an extremely readable and up-to-date account of the control measures that can be used … They provide the reader with a very objective account of the problems of bringing together different techniques of control to a package acceptable to the growers and those responsible for vector control programmes … This book should be read by a wider audience than students of applied entomology as it shows that we still need insecticides despite the prophecies of 'Silent Spring'.' Crop Protection
H. F. van Emden, M. W. Service, H. F. van (University of Reading) Emden, M. W. (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) Service, Helmut Van Emden, Michael Service, Helmut van Emden, H. F. Van Emden